# Google DeepMind expands globally as AI research race intensifies > Source: > Published: 2026-09-16 14:34:59+00:00 Logo via Wikimedia Commons; treatment-A cover, license to verify on approval # Google DeepMind expands globally as AI research race intensifies The new initiative arrives as Google DeepMind navigates leadership changes and expands its global AI research footprint. ## A busy year for Google DeepMind In April, the company unveiled its first-ever AI Campus in Seoul, built through a partnership with South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT. That facility marked [Google](https://cryptobriefing.com/markets/alphabet/) DeepMind’s inaugural dedicated physical research hub outside its existing offices. Then in June, Google DeepMind and Google.org announced a five-year genomics data consortium with the Wellcome Sanger Institute, committing $5 million annually to the effort. That $25 million total investment reflects a bet that AI-driven genomics will be one of the most consequential applications of the technology over the coming decade. Perhaps the most consequential shift, though, happened in August. Demis Hassabis, the co-founder who built DeepMind from a London startup into one of the world’s most important AI labs, transitioned to a chair role at Google DeepMind while also becoming chief scientist of parent company Alphabet. Koray Kavukcuoglu, a longtime DeepMind researcher, stepped into the day-to-day leadership position as SVP. Wall Street noticed. Alphabet shares dropped 4% following the leadership announcement, with investors apparently rattled by concerns over model release timelines and the broader implications of shuffling the executive deck during a critical period in the AI arms race. ### AI, tech, and the markets they move—in one daily briefing. Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy. ## The leadership transition factor Kavukcuoglu, who now runs day-to-day operations, has deep roots in DeepMind’s research apparatus. His appointment was broadly seen as a continuity pick rather than a pivot toward pure product development. Still, the 4% stock decline after the announcement suggested that investors wanted more certainty about what the transition means for Google’s AI output cadence. **Disclosure:** This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our [Editorial Policy](https://cryptobriefing.com/editorial-policy/).